CHIPPENHAM-born Danny Kent is looking to build on his points finish in the opening race of the Moto2 World Championship when he takes to the track in Argentina.

The 22-year-old finished in sixth position in Qatar for the Leopard Racing team, making their debut in the second tier of motorcycling.

Kent, who started the race in 11th position after qualifying, gained three places with a fine start before pole-sitter Jonas Folger fell leading in the second lap.

The Moto3 world champion kept contact with the leading pack after eight riders were penalised for jump starts.

The victory went to Thomas Luthi, for team Dynavolt Intact, with Kent coming in a respectable sixth place to pick up 10 points from his opening outing.

“I have to say thanks to the team because all weekend, we’ve not had the best set-up but we never gave up and have slowly been creeping forwards,” said Kent after the race.

“If we’d gone into this weekend knowing we’d be sixth, we’d have been really happy with that.

“I know some crashed out and some jumped the start, but that’s racing. We kept our cool and took sixth but we know we have to keep working hard to make the next step and with 17 races ahead of us, we’ll keep getting faster and faster.”

Kent now heads to Argentina where two years ago he crashed at the end of a Moto3 race but won last year to become the first British rider to take back-to-back Grand Prix wins in the lightweight-class since Barry Sheene in 1971.